Machine for applying box tops



G. H. LITTLE. MAcHlNE Foa APPLYING Box TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27. I92I.

Patented June 13, 1922.

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MACHINE FOB APPLYING BOX TOPS. APPLWATION` men MAY 21, 1921-.

1 ,4; 1 9, 576 Patented June 13, 1922..

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. H. LITTLE.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING Box TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 192I.

l Q ."H. LITTLE. 'MACHINE Foa APPLWNG Box TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27| I92I.

Patented June 13, 192.2.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.'

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Gnonen H. LITTLE, or wiNs'roNsaLnivi, NORTH cAnoLINaLiissIeNonro R. :L REY;

Norms ronaoco coi/ri? rioN or NEW JERSEY.

raras-re.

' Application led May 27,

certainr new and useful improvements vin Machines lfor ApplyingBoX Tops, of which the followingis a specification. j

My invention relates to mechanism for applying tops to boxesV and like containers.

he general object is'to provide simple 'and accurately operating mechanism kcapable of applying tops to box bodies in rapid succession. n

A more yparticular object is to `provide means for supporting and advancing the boxA tops in groups, and more especially in partially nested stacks, and successively withdrawing individual tops'fr'om the group or stack and applying them to box bodies. which are successively presented at the application point.

A. further object .is to provide means for advancing successive groups or stacks of the tops, so that while the tops are lbeing applied from one stack another is adjacent toi it and ready to inoveinto position as soonas the tops in the first stack are exhausted.

Another object is to provide improved applying mechanism of very simple character, adaptedto the preferred mode of top-stack arrangement. Y

finother object is to provide means for detecting failure of the machine toapply a top to an advancing box body,l because of exhaustion of the supply of tops at the applicationpoint, or for other reasons7 andv desiiably to provide means in connection with this detecting mechanisnrfor indicating in some noticeable way the failure of top application so that the attendant cany take necessary steps to reinedythe difliculty.

rlhe invention, therefore, provides ymeans for accomplishing these and other objects, as sufficiently described hereinafter. Y

The accompanying drawing shows one eX- emplifying embodiment of the machine, and after considering this in connection with the description will be understood that manyv variations may be vinade in the organization of the machine, and in parts and sub-coinbifv nations of parts,v within the principles of the invention; also that certain subordinate parts of the mechanism` have utility in them,-

ANY, or WrNsroNsaLEiin Nonrn canoLrNA, .A cortisone#l MACHlNE FOB, APPLYINCT BOX TOES.jk

Specification of Letters Patent. Patntd Jun@ 13, 1922 192i. serial No, .lr/3,105.`

selves, as wellas inthe complete machine las herein shown.l

Figs. l and la taken together. ,are ta side Q elevati@ of a machine embodynefmy inveni tion. l Y Y Y Figs. 2 and 2? taken together'area topk Figs. 3 yand 3f?v are anenlarged side eleva.- tion ofl the central portion yof themachine plan.

as 'seen in Figs. l andlla. n n

Fig. 4L is an enlarged top :plan near the ,left-hand' end of the machine showing especially bonbody supply or feedinglmeans.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of Vtopoinission detecting and signalling mechanism.

tige is a section of F ig. 5101i ythe line 6 6.

The mechanism conveniently organized I about a longitudinal table l, which `is usually l supported by standards or legs, not shown. The tableV is longitudinally apertured or channeled to Vreceive the upperV stretch ofa` conveyor chain 2. "This chain passes about sprockets 3 anda, carried by shafts 5and 6,

located below the table. and conveniently sun orted in bearings fixed to the underv surface of thetablel The sprocket shaft V5 in the present instance is the driving shaftand this is driveninaiiy suitable way from any convenient source ofpower. At regularly spaced intervals the conveyor chain is provided with lugs yor short transverse cleatsS whichengage and forward the boi; bod ies B. The upper stretch of the conveyor Tchaingis vsupported in any convenient I, therefore,y do; not limit, myself to the precise structureshown, but; i conteinplateany structures which are prop;y

way, forinstance,` by the bottom of the ychannelV formed in the table or by inwardly projectingedges of the table aperture, when the table is apertured; or otherwise the ac-` tive stretch of the lchainbe supported by the endsfof the cleatsS which project over the ,upper surface .ofk the table adjacent to the channel or aperture which accommodates the chain.

The boX bodies B may be vplacedlon the l conveyor by hand at the feed end of [the machine or may be'positionedlby any'suittableV automatic or'seini-automatic device.

In the present embodiment of the invention the particular means `employed for placing on shelf 10. In the present instance the machine is adapted for handling relatively long and narrow box bodies of rectangular form, and such boxes are well adapted to contain such commodities as packages of cigarettes arranged in rows and tiers, in tliepresent instance two superposed rows of packages, with ve packages in each row. Evidently the mechanism may be arranged to handle boxes of widely divergent proportions'. and

gform,l which may be filled with various commodities and, of course, the machine will operate equally -well when desired with empty boxes. rfhe boxes may be placed without particular care upon the shelf 10 and as they are advanced toward the conveyor chain they are properly positioned against the guide rail 11 by the convergent guide rail 12.' ,The boxes may be passed over the shelf 10 by a pusher or by a conveyor belt, or byl hand. operation, as may be desired. In any case they are moved so that a box body is advanced over the conveyor chain in front of each advancing lug 8 and thereafterthe bodies are carried forward by the conveyor between vert-ical guide rails 14 and 15 atV the sides of table 1. Guide rail 15 is usually extended forward so that it is opposite the line of box bodies on shelf 10 and serves to limit the advance movement of the successive boxes as1 they are placed on the conveyor. The forward end of the other guide rail 14 desirably has an outwardly iiared portion 16 to assist in properly locating the Yboxes as they arev advanced by the -conveyor.

Shortly after the boxes are placed upon the conveyor they are desirably brought under a longitudinal upper guide rail or strip 2O which is supported by frame members 21, with their upright members secured to the table. l This guide strip has an angular relation to the table so that as the boxes advance the guide strip confines them more closely vand finally, as they approach the point Vof top application the guide strip is arranged to provide only slight clearance above the upper edges of the body and any possibility of the bodies moving away from the table adjacent to the point of top application is prevented.

The box tops T `are in the present ycase of rectangular form to correspond with the Shape ofthe bodies, and are of a size to fit snuglydown over the bodies, and they are desirably arranged prior to applic-ation, as best shown in Fig. 3, in groups or stacks, and' more especially are partially nested together so that one end of each top is linserted within the end of the top next above it and the successive tops in the stack are progressively tilted in relation to the substantially. horizontal position of the lowest top. Otherwise described', the tops are ina partially nested fan-like formation, each top having vone Vend entirely free and with itsopen edge resting upon the closed upper sui'- face of the next lower top in the stack. A`

stack of tops so arranged is supported adjacent to the application point bya longituy dinal, horizontal shelf 25, whose rearward end terminates slightly forward of the rear end of guide strip 20. The tops are further confined in a housing comprising vertical side plates 26 and a rear end plate 27, which has its main portion inclined at Va moderate angle to the vertical down to a point 28 where the plate is bent to form a horizontal portion 29 terminating at Vv30. The portion 29 of the plate or strip 27 may be supported by yoke members V31 similar to the yokepiece 21 previously described. i c* YThe construction and arrangement of the housing, shelf 31 and guide'strip 20' are such that an aperture is provided between the rear end of strip 20 and the lower end of angular guide plate 27 to permit positioning of successive tops for initial application to the advancing box bodies. In Fig.

8, the parts are shown just after the initial j engagement of the lower top in the stack with an advancing body. The upper edge of the forward end of the box body has entered the open bottom of the top section and has engaged theV forward end of the topsection and has commenced to pull this top section out from the stack; and this movement has progressed to suoli an extent that the advancing end of the top section has been brought under the adjacent end of the horizontal guide strip 29. As this movement continues the withdrawal of the top from the stack is completed and the upwardly curved portion of the said adjacent end of guide plate 29 presses the box top down into initial engagement with the body throughout the entire circumference of the box parts. As this initial assembly is' completed the forward end of the top section is withdrawn from the rearwardend of the top section Vnext above it in the stack, and the stack drops down and the top T which is now lowest in the stack lies at such an angle in the aperture that its forward edge is in the line of movement of the next advancing box body, and the operations are repeated indefinitely until the tops in the stack are exhausted. The frictional engagement of the iioY partially nested top sections causes the stack ,130

to advance against the angular guide plate 27, as suflicientlyunderstood from Fig. 3 without elaborate explanation.

It is desirable to provide means for quickly, and preferably for automatically replacing an exhausted stack of tops with a fresh stack in proper arrangement. For this purpose a stack feed belt 35 isprovided, carried by belt pulleys 36 and 37 mounted on shafts 38 and 39, and these shafts are supported in bearings in vertical brackets 40, secured to the table. For the proper adjustment offeed belt 35 the brackets 40 which support its forward shaft 38 may be pivotally mounted at 40a and provided with arcshaped slots 40b through vwhich a bolt 40c passes. The brackets may be rotated about the pivot center 40 to adjust the belt and the adjustment secured by tightening bolt 40C. Shaft 39 is conveniently driven at suitable speed from a shaft 5 by pulleys and a belt 41. The vertical side plates 26 are extended forward to substantially embrace the active vrange of feed belt 35. While box topsare being fed from the stack positioned adj acent'to the applying` opening, a fresh stack is placed on the upper stretch of conveyor 35, and this stack is frictionally urged by the conveyor toward the active stack of tops so that the rearward end of the lowermost top in the inactive stack engages the upper surface of the uppermost top in the active stack. The frictional effect of the stack feed belt 35,

therefore, assists in urging the tops in the active stack forward'to application position and also carries the inactive stack forward as the active stack is depleted, until finally when the uppermost top in the active stack is drawn away throughthe application open` ing, the inactive stack .is moved forward over shelf 25 and into active position,

and tops are then fed from the newly positioned stack in the manner previously de` scribed. Mean time the attendant places a new stack of tops on the feed belt 35, and the cycle of operations continues indefinitely.

It is desirable to arrange the side plates 26 with converging portions to accurately center the tops substantially atthe point of application and the box body guide rails 14 and 15 may also be provided at substantially the same point with converging portions to center the bodies in a similar manner.

To the rear of horizontal guide plate 29 means are provided for completing the application of the tops, that is for moving the tops down into complete telescoped relation with the bodies. Such means comprises in the present embodiment a guide plate inclined downward in the direction of box advance. The forward end of this plate may be pivoted at 51 in uprights 52 and the rearward end may be somewhat upwardly curved' as at 53, and urged downward by springs 54 connected at their lower ends to the table and at their upper ends to a cross piece 55 Vsecured to the guide plate 50 near the point 53. As the boxes come under guide plate 50 downward pressure is exerted on the tops and they are gradually moved down into final position by the yielding pressure of the angular guide plate which will, if a cover unduly resists the emplacing movement for any reason, move upwardly sufficiently to prevent damagev to the machine or breakage of the box bodyor top.

It is desirable in some cases, and means are included in the invention for detecting the absence of a top at a suitable point in the advance ofthe box bodies, for instance, after the bodies pass the point at which applicas tion should be made. A top may be absent because of failure to replenish the stack of tops at the proper time, or by failure of the stack to feed forward properly, or for some other reason. It is desirable to detect such a failure. Desirably, also in connection with a suitable detecting device, means are provided for signalling to the attendant so thatvthe difficulty may be remedied.

The detecting and signalling mechanism shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6 comprises bars and 61 hinged or pivotcd at the points 62 to a suitable side member, such as the vertical extension 64 of guide rail 14 previously referred to. VThese bars are acted upon by a crossl piece 66, the ends of which overlie the respective bars 60 and 61 and the central part of which is engaged by a spring 67 compressed against the cross piece by a spring bolt 68 the inner end of which engages with a side member of the frame, such as vertical rail extension k64. Near their free ends the bars-60 and 61 are pivotally connected at the points 69 to an upright lever 70. At thelower end the lever has an inturned member or toe 71 adjacent to the outer surface of guide rail 14. The bars 60 and 61 are also provided with members 7 5 and 7 6 arranged to project inward through slots in guide rails 64 and 14- and slidingly engage the adjacent side surfaces of passing box tops and bodies, as sufliciently understood in i ig. 6.

`Then a box passes with a top properly in position as shown in this figure, the lever is held in substantially upright position against the action of spring 67; but if a top is absent from the passing box for any reason, the top engaging member 7 5 is permitted to move inward and the upper end of the lever at the same time is moved inward by the action of spring6'7. Thismovement of the lever constitutes in a broad sense a detecting and indicating action. To effectively signal to the attendant, however, a suitable signal kis desirably arranged to cooperate with the lever. Such signaling mechanism comprises in the present instance a sliding contact member 8O arranged toy reciprocate in a block oit insulating material 8l, and this bolt-like contact member may be provided with a resetting handle 82 projecting upward through a slot 83 in the insulating block. rlhe'inner end or' the contact member 8() is arranged to make contact With a flexible nxed contact member 85 mounted on an insulating block 86. The blocks 8l and 86 may conveniently be mounted on a plate 88, and this in turn may be located'on hori- Zontal guide strip 29 previously mentioned, and the insulating blocks and associated mechanism may be enclosed by a housing or shield 90 Which also may be provided With a slot 91 to accommodate resetting handle 82. The contact members 80 and 85 are connected in a circuit 95 including a source of electrical energy such as battery 96, and a signaling device 97, in the present case an electric bell. The outer end of slidingcontact member 8O is in line With the upper end of lever 70, so that when the lever moves inward upon the omission of a top as pregroup to position another top for applica-` tion after each top is Withdrawn.

2. Box top applying mechanism, comprising means for advancingbox bodies successively to a top applying position, means for maintaining a stack of tops substantially at the top-applying position, and means for supplying successive tops lrom the stack to successively positioned bodies and for advancing the stack to positionanother top for application after each top is Withdrawn, said means comprising an angularly arranged guide-plate controlling the advancing movement of the stack.

3. Mechanism for applying tops to boxes, comprising means :for advancing box bodies successively to a top applying point, means :tor maintaining a stack of box tops adjacent to the application point with the lovvermost top in the stack in application position and for advancing the stack to continually position the lowermost top in the stack as the tops are successively Withdrawn, and means for advancing another stack of tops toward applying position as the stack in applying position is exhausted.

4. Mechanism for applying tops to boxes,

comprising means for advancing box bodies successively to a top applying point, means for maintaining a stack of partially nested box tops adjacent to the application point With the loWermost top in the stack in application position and tor advancing the stack to continually position the lowermost top in the stack as the tops are successively Withdrawn, and means for advancing another stack of similarly arranged tops as the stack in applying position is exhausted.

5. Mechanism tor applying tops to boxes, comprising means for advancing box bodies successively to a top applying point, means for maintaining a stack of box tops adjacent to the application point with the loWermost top in the stack in application position and for advancing the stack to continually position the loWermost topl in the staclrasthe tops are successively Withdrawn, and means for supporting another stack of tops in a position adjacent to the stack in active position and advancing said other stack to active positionas the stack inactive position is exhausted.

6. Mechanism i''or applying tops -to boxes, comprising means for advancing box bodies successively to a top applying point, means for maintaining a stack of partially nested box tops adjacent to the application point With the lowermost top in the stack in application position and 'for advancing the .stack to position the lowermost top in the stack as the tops are successively Withdrawn, means for supporting another stack` of similarly nested tops in inactive position adjacent to the stacl in active position, andY means for advancing the inactive stack tof` active position as the stack in active position is exhausted. 1

7. Mechanism for applying tops to boxes, comprising means for advancing a series of box bodies, a support fora stack of partially nested box tops, and an angular guide member engaging one end of the stack, the support and the guide Vmember being arranged to provide an applying opening in Which the tops are successively positioned from the bottom of the stack in the path of the bodies for applicationthereto.

8. Mechanism for applying `tops to boxes,

comprising means for advancing a series of box bodies, a support for a stack of partially nested box tops, an angular guide member engaging one end of the stack, the support and the guide member being arranged to provide an applying opening in which the tops are successively positioned from the bottom of the stack in the path of the bodiesY for a lication thereto and a movin@ su av b l port for an inactive stack of similarly nested tops arranged to 'forward the inactive stack ico to active position adjacent to theapplying opening as the active stack is exhausted.

9. Mechanism for applying tops to boxes,

comprising m'eans for advancing a seriesV of 'boxfbodies, a support yior a stack of ypartially nested box tops, an angular guidemem- 'ber engaging one end of the stack, the support and the` guide member being arranged to providean applying opening in which the tops are successively positioned from 'the bottom of the stack in the path of the bodies for application thereto, and means ybeyond the applying opening for pressing the tops into position on the bodies.

10. Mechanism for applying tops to boxes, comprising lmeans for advancing a series of box bodies, a support for a stack of partially nested box tops, an angular guide member engaging one end of the stack, the support and the guide member being arranged to provide an applying opening in which the tops are successively positioned from the bottom of the stack in the path of the bodies `for application thereto, means vto the rear of the applying opening for pressing the tops partially into position on the bodies, and means acting subsequently 'for pressing the tops completely into position upon `the bodies. t

11. Mechanism for applying tops to boxes, comprising a conveyor for advancing a series of box bodies, a support for a stack of partially nested box tops, an angular guide member engaging the rear end of the stack, the support and the guide member being arranged to provide an applying opening in which the tops are successively angularly positioned from the bottom of the stack in the path of the bodies, sothat in the advancing movement of the bodies successive tops are Withdrawn and the stack is 'advanced and positioned by frictional engagement of the Withdrawn top in cooperation with the guide member. Y I

19.. Mechanism for applying tops to boxes, comprising a conveyor for advancing a series of box bodies, a support for a stack of partially nested box tops, an angular guide member engaging the rear end of the stack, the support and the guide member being arranged to provide an applying opening in which the tops are successively angularly positioned from the bottom of the stack in the path of the bodies, so that in the advancing movement of the bodies successive tops are Withdrawn and the stack is advanced and positioned by Ytrictional engagement of the Withdrawn top in cooperation with the guide member, and a. moving support for an inactive stack of similarly nested tops arranged to forward the inactive stack to active position adjacent to the applying opening as the active stack is exhausted.

13. Mechanism for applying tops to boxes, comprising a conveyor for advancing a series of box bodies, a support for a stack of partially nested box tops, an angular guide member engaging the rear end of the stack, the

support and the guide member vbeing arranged to provide an applying opening yin "which vthe tops are successively angularly positioned from the bottom of the stack in the path of the bodies, so that in 'the 'advancing movement lof `the bodies successive ftops are Withdrawn and the stack is -advanced and positioned by frictional engagement of the Withdrawn top incooperation with the guide member, and means tothe Vrear of the applying opening forv pressing the tops into position on kthe bodies. i v

111. Mechanism for applying tops Ito boxes, comprising aconveyor for advancing a series of box bodies, means 'for guiding-bodies 'to the conveyor, a support for a stack of partially nested box tops, an angular vguide member engaging the rear end 'of the stack, the support and the guide member being arranged to provide an applying opening in which the tops are successively angularly positioned rfrom the bottom or" the stack in the path of vthe bodies, so that in the advancing movement of the bodies successive tops are Withdrawn and the stack is advanced and positioned by frictional engagement of the Withdrawn top in cooperation With the guide member, vmeans to lthe rear of the applying opening for pressing the tops partially into .position on the bodies, and means acting subsequently vfor pressing the tops completely into position upon the bodies.

15. In box top 'applying apparatus, in which tops are applied to successively ad- 1'0'0 vanced box bodies, a guiding channel, means therein for pressing the tops partly in position on the bodies, a movably 'mounted presser plate acting on the tops during further movement of the kbodies to ypress the 105 tops ycompletely into position on the bodies, and means yieldingly urging the presser plate into contact with the tops.

16. In box applying apparatus, in which tops are lsuccessively applied to advancing 110 box bodies, a guiding channel, means therein for pressing the tops partly in position on the bodies, a pivoted presser plate acting on the tops during further movement of the bodies to press the tops completely into pos'i- 115 tion on the bodies, and a spring yieldingly maintaining the presser plate in angular position in contact With the tops.

17. In mechanism for applying tops to box bodies, a conveyor for advancing box 120 bodies in spaced relation, means for feeding bodies successively to the conveyor, means for supporting a stack of partially interlocked box tops and for supplying tops successively from the stack to advancing bod' 125 ies, and subsequently acting means for pressing the tops into position on the boxes.

18. In mechanism for applying tops to box bodies, a conveyor for advancing box bodies in spaced relation, means for guiding bodiesto the conveyor, means for supporting a stack of partially interlocked box tops and for supplying tops successively from Vthe stack to advancing bodies, subsequently acting means for pressing the tops into position on the bodies, and means for moving a fresh stack of tops into active position as the stack at that position is exhausted.

19..In `box top applying mechanism in which tops are applied to successive box bodies, va movable member arranged to engage passing box vassemblies and cooperating means for indicating the absence of a top from the body after the latter passes the application point.

20. In box top applying mechanism in Which tops are applied to successive box bodies, means for detecting the absence of a top 'from the body after the latter passes the application point, and a signal acting in conjunction With the detecting means.

21. In box top applying mechanism in which tops are applied to successive box bodies, means for detecting the absence of a top from the body after the latter passes the application point, and an audible signal actuated by the detecting means.

22. In box top applying mechanism in which tops are successively applied to advancing box bodies and pressed partially in position thereon, a movable member arranged to engage passing'box assemblies and cooperating means for indicating the absence of a top from the bodyafter the latter passes the application point. r

23. In box top applying mechanism in Which tops are successively applied to advancing box bodies and pressed partially in position thereon, means for detecting the absence of a top from the body after the latter passes the application point, and a signal acting in connection with the detecting means.

24. In box top applying mechanism in which tops are successively applied to advancing box bodies and pressed partially in position thereon, means for detecting the absence of a top from the body after the latter passes the application point, and an audible signal actuated by the detecting means.

25. In box top applying mechanism iny 26.v In box top applying vmechanism in .which tops-are successively applied to-advancing boxbodies vand pressed partially in position thereon, a'member arranged to en-` gage a box top advanced in proper position g,

on a body, a signal, and means for Vactuating the signal by inward movement lof said member in the absence of a box top :from a passing body.

27. In mechanism o-theclass described,

in Which successive box bodies are supplied with tops and the assemblies so formed are moved on beyond the top application point, detecting mechanism comprising a member arranged to contact with a part of a top if detecting and signaling mechanism comprising members adapted respectively to engage portions of the top-'and body of'a passing assembly, pivoted arms carrying said members, means urging the arm to engagey the members With the assembly, a lever movably connected WithV both of the arms, and a signal operated by the lever.

29. In'mechanism or' the class described, in which successive box bodies are supplied With tops and the assemblies so formed are moved on beyond the top application point, detecting and signaling mechanism comprising members adapted respectively to engage portions of the top and body of a passing assembly, pivoted arms carrying said members, Vmeans urging the arms to engage the members with the assembly, a lever movably connected with both of the arms, a movable contact member operated by the lever, a relatively ixed contact member, an electric cirj cuit including said contacts, and an electrically operated signaling device in said circuit to signal the attendant upon the passage oi1 an incorrect assembly.

30. In box top applying mechanism in Which tops are applied to successive box bodies, a signal, and means rendering theV signal active upon movement of an uncovered box body beyond the top-applying point.

Signed at l/Vinston-Qalem, in the county of Forsyth and State of North Carolina, this 27th day of'April, A. D. 1921.

' GEORGE H. LITTLE. 

